The Department of Athletics "Broncs for Change" Diversity and Inclusion Task Force was announced during the Fall 2020 semester and includes 28 Rider administrators, coaches and student-athletes.  The task force currently holds virtual bi-weekly meetings to discuss and develop advocating for awareness and creating actionable goals for the Department of Athletics in support of the University's Inclusive Excellence Plan to foster a welcoming environment within the University community.
Since its inception, the task force has been working on ways to promote change while fostering efforts to enhance Rider as a community where individuals of every race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, religion and disability feel supported, included and welcome.


Operating under the title "Broncs for CHANGE", the task force identified the word CHANGE as a meaningful one to reflect the group's efforts of:
 
Combating hatred;
Healing;
Advocating;
Nourishing;
Guiding;
Educating.
 
Goals:

• Provide guidance and support for current student-athletes, coaches and staff;
• Encourage education, advocacy and training;
• Develop a comprehensive resource list;
• Open lines of communication;
• Promote civic engagement; and
• Establish programming to create impactful action.

 
"Broncs for CHANGE" Task Force Members:
Karin Torchia, senior associate director of athletics for external operations/SWA
Kevin Baggett, head men's basketball coach
Lynn Milligan, head women's basketball coach
Davon Ortega, head softball coach
Jeff Rotondo, head volleyball coach
Marritta Gillcrease, assistant women's basketball coach
Taner Bay, men's soccer student-athlete
Jerome Boyer, men's track and field student-athlete
Samantha Butler, women's track and field student-athlete
Austin Devereux, men's golf student-athlete
Alexander Diamantis, baseball student-athlete
Kaitlyn Flemming, field hockey student-athlete
Elena Gonzalez, softball student-athlete
James Green, men's track and field student-athlete
Rebecca Green, women's swimming and diving student-athlete
Ajiri Johnson, men's basketball student-athlete
Ethan Laird, wrestling student-athlete
Maeve Lersch, swimming and diving student-athlete
Kyla Massey-Edwards, women's track and field student-athlete
Daija Moses, women's basketball student-athlete
Alejandro Perez, men's soccer student-athlete
Anilee Sher, volleyball student-athlete
Kaitlyn Siciliano, women's soccer student-athlete
Matt Siley, men's track and field student-athlete
Madeleine Tarin, women's soccer student-athlete
Justin Thomas, men's track and field student-athlete
Danielle Tyson, field hockey student-athlete
Genesis Walker, women's track and field student-athlete
 
Programming/Events:
The following programs/events took place in Fall 2020:

• Some of the head and assistant coaches on the task force took the lead and held virtual meetings with various Rider teams to encourage open dialogue on the social justice issues in the country;
• Campus wide t-shirt giveaway in conjunction with the University's "On Wednesday's We Wear Cranberry" weekly spirit campaign. Giveaway materials included information about social justice and a QR code to encourage the Rider community to watch specific videos and continue the conversation;
• Shared (socially distant) movie watching of "Fruitvale Station" with a topical discussion amongst the task force members following its conclusion;
• The task force actively promoted voting initiatives the Department of Athletics implemented and helped register Rider's athletic teams to vote and provide information on how to vote in the November 2020 election;
• A powerful "I Vote Because" video was created featuring student-athletes and was shared on the department's social media platforms prior to Election Day;
• MAAC United for Justice decals were placed on the floor on Alumni Gym with Black Lives Matter graphics being shown on the videoboard and scorer's tables during every home basketball and wrestling event.  This will continue for the Spring 2021 semester to include remaining home events for those two sports and the addition of volleyball;
• Kevin Baggett (head men's basketball coach) and Lynn Milligan (head women's basketball coach) took part in a reading program as part of the MAAC's "Timeout for Black Lives" initiative; and
• All Department of Athletics staff took part in the first part of a Diversity and Inclusion workshop with additional workshops to continue for staff and student-athletes with guidance from the Center for Diversity & Inclusion.

 
Many future programs/events for Spring 2021 are currently in the planning stages, but will include:

• A campus-wide outdoor showing of the movie Fruitvale Station using the task force members to act as conversation facilitators to discuss its impact (providing approval per COVID protocols);
• An additional "On Wednesdays We Wear Cranberry" giveaway day;
• Additional workshops for coaches, administrators, staff and student-athletes; and
• The creation of Broncs for Change social media accounts to highlight many various aspects, including (but not limited to) the accomplishments of our diverse coaches, student-athletes and staff (past or present) and other important topics.